http://www.indiamike.com/india en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:09:13 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.indiamike.com/india/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.indiamike.com/india http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/name-change-after-marriage-for-dubai-issued-passport-t95820/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:45:18 GMT Hi all,

I want to know what are the rules for change of name after marriage. My passport was issued in Dubai. my husband made an enquiry regarding it and he says I have to apply for a new passport because my passport was issued in Dubai and if i dont change my name in the passport i cannot apply for my kids passport. My passport is valid till 2018 and i thought i would change the name after the expiry. I thought there wont be much of a problem as my sister who stays in Dubai is still using the same name even after her marriage and she even has a baby who already has a passport whereas my baby cant apply for a passport till i don't change my name. Why is it so? I want to travel to Dubai in December with my kids.
What should I do? :confused:

kindly tell me the rules for change of name after marriage. ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions mrskhan http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/name-change-after-marriage-for-dubai-issued-passport-t95820/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/where-do-i-send-my-passport-t95818/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:37:11 GMT Hi
I've just applied for an India tourist visa, I did this online and paid online. I think I now have to print off the form and sign it, send it with my passport and photos, but I'm not sure which I office I send it too? There are two London offices, so which do you send it to? I've tried to find more info on the site but it's useless. Also does anyone know if you have to put down two sponsors in India? Seeing as I'm only a tourist I put NA in those fields. ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions redmazzy http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/where-do-i-send-my-passport-t95818/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/entry-on-tourist-visa-to-receive-oci-t95799/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:26:10 GMT Hello all, I applied for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card the last time I was in India. It was still under process when I left India and was completed a couple of months after that. I am now back in India and I have accepted my OCI card. My entry was on my tourist visa, so does this mean that I will have to take a trip outside of India before my 6 months are over for my OCI to come into effect? Thanks for your replies Hello all,

I applied for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card the last time I was in India. It was still under process when I left India and was completed a couple of months after that.

I am now back in India and I have accepted my OCI card. My entry was on my tourist visa, so does this mean that I will have to take a trip outside of India before my 6 months are over for my OCI to come into effect?

Thanks for your replies ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions AnishK http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/entry-on-tourist-visa-to-receive-oci-t95799/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/india-to-syria-lebanon-visa-t95741/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:17:19 GMT i hope someone here will know:

i would like to travel to syria and lebanon early next summer. i have a british passport. i understand i need a visa for both countries. do i have to go all the way to delhi to get my visas or is it possible to send off for them by post/courier? are there agents who do this kind of thing? i really don't fancy a trip to delhi from kerala (where i live). but on the other hand i would worry about my passport getting lost/stolen. any information appreciated. ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions anar http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/india-to-syria-lebanon-visa-t95741/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/employment-visas-when-in-india-t95726/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:29:53 GMT Hi guys,

I've scoured the forum threads on employment visas and have found some amazing info, thanks so much. But I have 2 rather urgent questions that I am hoping someone can answer, and I have pressure from my employer to get back to them on this ASAP.

My situation. I am an American in India on a tourist visa, and have just been offered employment with an Indian non-profit in Delhi. I know that especially now, since the laws are being officially enforced since about one month back, it is impossible to go to Nepal or any country neighboring India that is NOT YOUR OWN, to get your employment visa. I had an employment visa a year and a half ago, but luckily obtained it and the job BEFORE coming to India, and this time, that is not the case.

I am trying to find out if there is any any option at all that will allow me to avoid flying home to Los Angeles, as this will be extremely difficult for me, both financially and in terms of starting this job (but if i must, i must). I was counting on being able to go to Nepal when i originally made the decision to come out here.

A friend of mine who expedites visas and passports as her profession just told me that I could send my passport and all the documents by FEDEX (or another courier) to Travisa, get the employment visa, and have it sent back to me in India. I called Travisa, and they said that they do have Americans sending in their passports from India, and that they have made the employment visas for these passports, and sent them back. And didnt hear about any problems. I still havent been able to get through to the actual Indian embassy/consulate to ask about this.

Does anyone know of any case like this? And if so, what have they done about entrance and exit stamps? Bc if I stay here and my passport goes, there will be a visa but no stamps. Is there any way to get around that? I am ok with paying a fine, probably any fine i have to pay will be less than a flight back home.

Given that travisa has received passports in this manner, I am trying to find out if there is anyone who has done this, or who has friends who have, who can report back, or if anyone on this forum knows anything about this type of situation.

One last question. A lot of the posts i have read talk about a letter from the employer, addressed to the embassy, that explain why said position should be filled by a foreigner and not an Indian national. I dont think i had a letter like that when i applied for my employment visa last time, and i couldnt find a requirement for it on either travisa's website or the Indian embassy's. Is this just a recommended tip, or a new requirement (if its recommended, i think i should do it anyway)? And is it a separate letter, or is it a paragraph within the appointment or contract letter?

I am sorry this post is so long. I am under a little bit of a time constraint, so anything at all would be so helpful.

Thank you!! : )
Rachel ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions Matrika85 http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/employment-visas-when-in-india-t95726/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/lost-uk-passport-with-5-year-indian-visa-t95719/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:09:10 GMT My cousin had lost his UK Passport which also had a 5 year India Visa. He now has a new passport but would like to know what to do about having his 5 year India visa re-applied to his new passport. He is only a teenager so I am trying to help him out with this :) Thanks. My cousin had lost his UK Passport which also had a 5 year India Visa.

He now has a new passport but would like to know what to do about having his 5 year India visa re-applied to his new passport.

He is only a teenager so I am trying to help him out with this :)

Thanks. ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions shopkeeper http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/lost-uk-passport-with-5-year-indian-visa-t95719/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/renew-indian-visa-in-italy-t95696/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:26:11 GMT Dear All,
Please help me with your guidance.
I am Indian in Italy with stay permit for two years (extended after 1 year stay). Stay permit is valid till 15-Dec-2010 however the passports of my kids are valid till 01-12-2010. It means I will be required to renew the passport to continue our stay here. My question is how I can renew kids' passport in Italy, when, where and how ? What documents are required ? Renewed passport will be of what duration ?
Thanks in advance
Unmesh Bagwe ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions ubagwe http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/renew-indian-visa-in-italy-t95696/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/quick-visa-question-t95639/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:40:09 GMT Has anyone used VFS in the uk for a visa. Any problems? On the visa form it asks you for two contactable people with addresses in india, what do we put here as we havent been before, so know no one out there yet? Has anyone used VFS in the uk for a visa. Any problems? On the visa form it asks you for two contactable people with addresses in india, what do we put here as we havent been before, so know no one out there yet? ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions Byebyeblighty http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/quick-visa-question-t95639/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/expired-tourist-visa-conversion-to-x-visa-t95615/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:41:17 GMT Hello,

I was going through this forum and was trying to find an answer to a Q I have. Since I didn't found one, I am initiating this thread. Hope you probably may be able to come up with real solution/opinion.

To brief the situation.... I am an Indian and wife a Filipino national. Got married since 3 years but she is on an expired visa with no RP since the x-visa conversion process got delayed for certain reasons. Approached MHA in 2008 June for conversion of visa from tourist status to X-visa. They sent us back with a sealed envelope asking our marriage and activity status from the local police station through the FRO. Local FRO did sent the same report back to MHA in August 2008. Until now no response from MHA. On approaching FRO they asked us to make a visit of MHA again as usual in most cases. Planning to go to MHA this month (Nov'09). Since there was a gap of August 2008 to November 2009, will there be any extra documents I need to carry. Will i be granted the extension on my this visit or something else will be the outcome?

J J. ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions kayajos http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/expired-tourist-visa-conversion-to-x-visa-t95615/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/indian-visa-hassles-in-singapore-and-malaysia-t95505/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:15:07 GMT short story: It's no longer cheap, relatively easy and reasonably fast. And it's no longer guaranteed six months.

long story: Delays due to slow step 1 -- new security clearance and other factors (privatized service, my non-resident status here, branch office). Eleven calendar days used to be plenty even at Chiang Mai Consulate and Phnom Penh Embassy -- now it's a hassle and costs a lot more. Tempted to give India a miss and try Bangladesh or Nepal. Pakistan is even worse though. When looking into going to Iraq via Pak was told to go home and apply there! Singapore High Commission of India told me same, and asked me accussatorily why I hadn't applied in my home country. I was dumbstruck that he didn't consider that some travellers make up their itinerary while they are on the road. I knew Middle East and ex-Soviet states don't welcome visitors but I thought India always was open armed. To keep this in perspective, when visiting Uzbekistan one has to have an invitation. But does India now too want only middle class families on tour packages rather than solo budget sojourners? Non-free countries of Burma and Cuba are easier.

But EVERYWHERE is becoming slower and more security conscious. For example in Hanoi when applying for my China visa (during Muslim province upheaval) it was sent to HCMC and took a week. And I had to deal with a travel agent in Hanoi. What ever happened to friendly and casual visa applications - walk in, bring a photo, pay some money? This isn't a post 9/11 thing. I have travelled to India since and it was nothing like this. To designers of this policy I would remind then that the Pak bombers arrived illegally by boat not on tourist visas. But more disheartening is one isn't told in advance what the wait will be, whether security clearance is satisfactory or whether one has to jump through other hoops at visa application stage ('Do you have a return ticket?') and you get to pay extra for rush service should they take a while to do step one.

BTW, Singapore High Commission has an out of date website. They have privatized it there also. They have a discretion and if your case is urgent and the officer likes you he might help you out (perhaps only if you have a work permit as did the Brit he assisted). And they have NO SIGNS advising you of the change you have to wait in line to be told things have changed (oh, and automated number system was down was I was there).

Business fees instead of state red tape might be an improvement but it's the worst of both worlds - monopoly capitalism not real free market where the applicant can review which travel agency gives the best service for visas.

And WHY do they continue to ask this waste of ink question 'where will you be staying?' when everyone knows half the applicants just make something up on the spot. Equally curious is 'where will you be visiting?' I am going to followed around? No? Then why ask. ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions hermespan http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/indian-visa-hassles-in-singapore-and-malaysia-t95505/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/first-name-correction-in-passport-t95495/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:07:57 GMT In my Daughter's passport - my surname was displayed for me , my daughter and my wife. But in marriage certificate , my wife's passport and my daughter's birth certificate - my wife have her maiden name.

I need to apply US visa for my daughter and wife.

How to rectify this?? How many days will it take to get this corrected.

Appreciate if any one let me know the procedure.

Thanks in advance. ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions swagan.varsh http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/first-name-correction-in-passport-t95495/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/oci-pio-hot-for-jobs-t95413/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:41:58 GMT Anybody seen this article? http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/OCI-cardholders-are-hot-for-Indian-assignments/articleshow/5231433.cms I wonder if it means that those of us who are non-Indian PIO card holders (not me yet, sadly!) will have an easier time getting a job over here. =) Anybody seen this article?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/5231433.cms

I wonder if it means that those of us who are non-Indian PIO card holders (not me yet, sadly!) will have an easier time getting a job over here. =) ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions stepmyrjov http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/oci-pio-hot-for-jobs-t95413/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/rush-service-for-indian-business-visa-in-canada-t95346/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:09:33 GMT Hello, Does anyone know if it is possible to apply for an Indian Business Visa in Canada (Ottawat) and receive it the same day? Do you know any agency doing rush service? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Hello,

Does anyone know if it is possible to apply for an Indian Business
Visa in Canada (Ottawat) and receive it the same day?

Do you know any agency doing rush service?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions SoultanCa http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/rush-service-for-indian-business-visa-in-canada-t95346/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/info-needed-new-general-consulate-of-india-in-montreal-canada-t95345/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:56:14 GMT Hi Mike forum readers, We urgently would need the address for the New General Consulate of India in Montreal. Ottawa and Vancouver General Consulate keep saying a new office is opened in Montreal and to refer to them. They give us a number and there are no answer plus their vocal mail box is still not assigned, so it is impossible to get any info. We have called several time in Ottawa asking the office address but nobody knows as they have just moved to the new office. If an alternative number (5148758472), this would be useful. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Hi Mike forum readers,

We urgently would need the address for the New General Consulate of India in Montreal.

Ottawa and Vancouver General Consulate keep saying a new office is opened in Montreal and to refer to them. They give us a number and there are no answer plus their vocal mail box is still not assigned, so it is impossible to get any info. We have called several time in Ottawa asking the office address but nobody knows as they have just moved to the new office.

If an alternative number (5148758472), this would be useful.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions SoultanCa http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/info-needed-new-general-consulate-of-india-in-montreal-canada-t95345/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/lost-indian-passport-and-u-s-passport-t95344/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:43:25 GMT Hi All,
I travelled to India(hyderabad) 2 months back with my Baby (15 months old)
and lost my passport as well as my baby`s passport and PIOcard.
My daughter was bornin U.S and she had U.S passport and PIO
1.I had 2 passports (expired+currently active) which has a valid visa
2.My daughter had U.S passport+PIO

Can you please suggest me how to proceed further in order to get my passport as well as my daughter's passport and PIO.
While appliying for new indian passport do i neeed to give my old passport number(i,e expired passport)also.If i get my new passport
1. will it have the same number as the old passport.
2. Will it hold the valid visa and stamped dates?
3. I lost my passport(which has 2 passports attached(active+expired)will i be issued with 2 passports or only one ?

How to proceed further to get my Daughter`s U.S passport

1.Do i need to go to U.S embassy by taking the appointment ?
2.How to apply the PIO ?

Thanks,
Sailu ]]> Indian Visa and Passport Questions sailu http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/lost-indian-passport-and-u-s-passport-t95344/